Response of Bat Diversity to Forest Disturbance in Southeast Asia: Insights from Long-Term Research in Malaysia

摘要: Southeast Asia is home to over 25 % of the world’s bat fauna, but rapid rates deforestation and habitat degradation threaten species across region. Ecological research in Asia, which has hitherto lagged far behind that Neotropical countries, now gaining momentum with burgeoning efforts assess response diversity anthropogenic modification. Central interpretation patterns disturbed landscapes an understanding assemblage composition dynamics relatively unmodified habitats. Fifteen years a Malaysian primary rainforest provided some structure spatiotemporal variability old-growth forests generated predictions ensemble vulnerability have largely been supported by empirical studies surrounding fragmented landscape other parts Asia. The forest-interior insectivorous ensemble, members Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae, Kerivoulinae, Murininae, particularly vulnerable forest loss degradation, this group can be further subdivided their roosting ecology. By virtue greater vagility, cave-roosting are somewhat more resilient fragmentation than depend on structures for roosts (cavities, foliage). However, as disturbance intensifies, also lost from assemblages imperiled cave disturbance. I advocate future focuses testing generality findings determining differential within Asian ensembles.